LIP FILLER
According to a study done by a British university, the lips represent the most sensual part of the female body. With red lipstick, then, it is a foolproof strategy to call men’s attention, even if the lips are not fleshy!
Regardless of the fashion and the influence of the look of the mouths of actresses, singers, and celebrities when choosing lipstick color, prevention is the best way to keep your lips beautiful. It is worth remembering that smoking and sun exposure accelerate the aging of the skin around the mouth, leaving it wrinkled and with a yellowish color.
WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT IS DONE
In the dermal filling technique known as Bioplasty or Lip Filler, incisions are not made, but injections of substances are made to augment thin lips, correct asymmetries, eliminate wrinkles around the mouth, and enhance the lines and contours of the lips. Dermal fillers are called liquid facelifts because they offer many of the benefits of a surgical facelift without the downtime.
We do a detailed evaluation to know if this technique can achieve a more natural result and a quick recovery, considering the results the patient wants. When it is indicated, one of the main injectable dermal fillers that we use in the lips is autogenous fat, obtained from the patient herself. If it is recommended, it is done in a hospital, because we do liposuction beforehand to obtain the fat. We address this issue in more detail on the page about Liposculpture.
The other option of dermal filler that we use in the lips is the hyaluronic acid, considered as one of the safest products to perform the dermal filling. The substance synthesized in a laboratory (there are several great brands) is similar to the natural one found in our skin.
Besides increasing the lip and promoting hydration and collagen stimulation, its allergy risk is minimal and it works, basically, as a kind of replacement. Another advantage of hyaluronic acid is that, if the result is not good, it is possible to apply substances that can degrade it quickly.
The Lip Filler with hyaluronic acid can be performed under local anesthesia in our office and takes 30 to 40 minutes. For greater comfort and to lessen the sensation of the introduction of the needle, we can use topical anesthetics in the form of a cream before the procedure. The substance is injected with a needle into the contour of the mouth and into the inner side of the lip. Then, the site is shaped with a light massage in order to maintain harmony with the rest of the face.
It is important not to confuse this with the application of Botulinum Toxin, because the procedures have different objectives. Botulinum toxin is used to soften expression marks and dynamic wrinkles and acts by reducing the action of the muscles.
INDICATION
The Lip Filler with autogenous fat or hyaluronic acid is indicated for patients who seek to renew and rejuvenate the look of the mouth, project the lips and eliminate wrinkles around the mouth. There are no restrictions for the use of fillers in young people, as long as there is a real need. However, the problems that can be corrected with the filling usually appear after the age of 30 due to the aging process.
The procedure is contraindicated for patients with autoimmune diseases, pregnant or breastfeeding women, with any type of lesion in the lips, or with active herpes labialis.
It is important to know that dermal fillers are not permanent. The duration of the results is variable, about 12 months, depending on some factors such as skin type, age, and even lifestyle habits. The way the face ages and absorbs the filler will determine the time to undergo a new procedure to maintain the results.
PREOPERATIVE
If the filling is done with fat from your own body – being necessary to be done in a hospital – please see the consult the SCHEDULED THE SURGERY? page, which has a series of questions to be discussed during the consultations, to help you with your doubts and where you will find recommendations for the day of the procedure.
If the Lip Filler is done with hyaluronic acid in our clinic, heavy physical activities are forbidden on the day of the application. It is not necessary to fast and do not use any kind of make-up on the face.
POSTOPERATIVE
Information below for procedures done in clinic with hyaluronic acid; those done with fat, see Liposculpture.
The patient is discharged soon after the procedure. The site may be swollen for 2 to 3 days and bruising for about 1 week and some ecchymosis (purple spots) may appear, which are absorbed in a few days. Cold water compresses over the lips can be helpful to decrease the time of swelling and provide some comfort.
Twelve hours of relative rest are sufficient. You can return to normal activities the next day and to social activities within 2 days. Pruritus (itching), burning or numbness may occur eventually. It is temporary and tends to disappear. The planned result begins to appear in a few days, and becomes definitive after approximately three weeks. During this period we will follow up and evaluate the results.
Avoid any abrupt contact with the lips during recovery. Redoubled attention to eating and drinking. As of the 2nd day of the procedure, you can eat practically anything. Avoid very hot foods, alcoholic beverages and smoking during the entire recovery period. Keep your mouth and lips always clean to avoid any infection. Avoid lipstick for at least 2 days.
There are no restrictions concerning exercises, just avoid them for two days after the procedure. More intense physical activities and contact sports after evaluation. Avoid as much as possible exposure of the mouth to the sun for at least 2 weeks; afterwards, always use sunscreen with a minimum of 30 SPF (sun protection factor).
As with other aesthetic treatments, the effect of the Lip Filler is temporary, and can take up to a year and a half, varying from case to case. The advantage is that the patient has conditions to adapt to each application according to his/her will. Besides this, hyaluronic acid stimulates the production of local collagen even after the end of its filling effect.